14 April 2015

UGANDA : City Oilers the team to beat!

THREE-PRONGED ATTACK: City Oilers players go for a rebound against as Falcons’ Steven Mwesigye (R) looks on haplessly

There is something awfully familiar
about the 2015 National Basketball league that rolled off over the
weekend. Barring a major crumble, City Oilers are bound to defend the
title, writes FELIX EUPAL.

City Oilers

Stability is the key to many success
stories and the Oilers have followed that script. They have kept
together the team that won them the national title last year and, on top
of that, added Burundian forward Landry Ndikumana from Zone V champions
Urunani.

Ndikumana showed flashes of brilliance
at the just-concluded Friday Night Lights (FNL) series. His rebounding
and good vision will come in handy to make Oilers’ already efficient
offence even better. Even with point guard Ben Komakech recovering from a
knee operation, they have enough depth on the back court to steer them
on.

Tiger Head Power

Power have been the busiest team in the
transfer window, bringing in point guards Sudi Ulanga from UCU Canons,
Fahmy Ssebatindira from Charging Rhino and centre Michael Makiadi from
KIU. Former players Ken Balyejusa and Richard Balemwa also rejoined the
team. On top of that, Bernice Ankunda has been demoted to assistant
coach to pave way for Kenyan tactician Robert Mugabe as head coach.

Prior to this, Power sent out shockwaves
when they axed forwards Isaac Afidra, David Kiberu and Derrick Mbusi
for poor performance. Just like last year’s pre-season, Power have
signaled the biggest intent to win the championship.

StarTimes Falcons

The six-time champions start the season
with a fat budget, courtesy of pay sponsors StarTimes. However, the
record champions seem to have moved a few steps backwards following the
departure of Cryus Kiviri and Steven Mwesigye to Our Savior Basketball
Club.

Team skipper and administrator Stephen
Omony is tight-lipped about any developments, maintaining there will be a
press conference to unveil the new players but the rumor mill has it
that Falcons have taken their shopping spree budget to Burundi and
Rwanda as well acquiring the services of forward Isaac Afidra.

KIU Titans

The Kasanga-based side is the team to
watch this season. They started by signing Ndejje forward Geoffrey Soro,
followed it up by hiring Hamza Nyambogo as head coach. Added to the
Blick brothers Norman and Donald, Titans made their most significant
acquisition in centre Henry Malinga from Warriors.

They have already proven that they can
sit at the table of men, winning their own KIU Invitational after
beating Oilers twice and being losing finalists at the just-concluded
UCU Invitational. They have a balanced squad that can fire on both
fronts and will be top contenders.

UCU Canons

Canons head coach Nick Natuhereza cannot
wait for the season to begin: “We lost core players but that will give
us a chance to do things afresh. It is the reason I can’t wait for the
season to start,” he says. Canons lost Ulanga and Sande Okot to Power
and Our Saviour respectively.

The university has brought in Steven
Wundi from their junior side, Michael Madol from KIU Titans and
Tanzanian forward Chuma Fadhil. Unfortunately, they will have to start
the season without centre Desmond Owili, who is away in Australia.

Stanbic Warriors

The two-time champions are stuck in yet
another player-transfer saga as they try to ensure that they don’t lose
the services of Henry Malinga.Last year, they successfully stopped wantaway Ivan Enabu from joining another club.

Meanwhile, Eric Malinga is in Nigeria,
centre Jovan Odhiambo and point guard Mark Opio are being courted by
various clubs and haven’t committed to the club. They have their work
cut out to put their house in order.

Our Saviour

Many are wondering where this team came
from but it is simple. When UCU JV won the second-tier Development
league last season, which would have propelled them to the top-flight,
the side was sold off to an America-based foundation called Our Saviour.

The team is now headed by former Falcons
guard Martin Kelly but is yet to submit their team list. Their strong
purse has seen them knock on the doors of several and could end up as
party spoilers.

Ndejje Angels

Walker Obedi’s Angels suffered a
disastrous second round last year, which is why they were pedestrian in
the play-offs. Their star player Soro has also left the team but they
have maintained their old squad.

They have also added Derrick Katumba and Chris Kyebambe from KIU while Godwin Khisa came out of retirement. “The coaching department needs to improve and we are aiming at starting strong,” Obedi says.

Sharing YouthThey
won the most-improved team award at the recently-concluded Fuba awards
and managed to make it to the play-offs last year on their return to
top-flight. However, the Nsambya-based team has been silent in the
transfer market.